Wilfried Bony has revealed that his family played a key role in convincing him to complete a sensational return to Swansea City this summer.

Bony returns to South Wales having enjoyed a brilliant first spell at the club where he netted 34 goals in 70 appearances, with the adulation from fans continuing long after his move to Manchester City in 2015.

Despite seeing his career stall in recent years, Bony's bond with the Swans has remained strong, and has even filtered down to his family, whom he claims were integral to helping him make up his mind on a £12 million Deadline Day return.

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"My family love it here. I was happy here too, and I will be happy again."

Bony's quest for happiness undoubtedly coincides with a hunger for goals, and he says the love of the Swansea faithful will help him recapture the verve and swagger that once made him one of the Premier League's most feared strikers.

“It is emotional for me to play in front of the fans again,” added the 28-year-old.

Wilfried Bony

“I remember the game when I scored against Swansea for Manchester City at the Liberty. The Swansea supporters applauded me, even though I scored for the opposition.

"I came off the bench and told Ashley Williams that I would score if I get a chance. He asked why, and I told him 'this is my garden'.

“The fans were very good to me, and I can’t wait to be back with them again.

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“I always watched the Swansea news all the time on the internet and the games they played. The club was always a part of me.

“We had some enjoyable moments together – now those moments are happening again."

Bony's strong relationship with the club that gave him his first opportunity in English football has also been noticed by Angel Rangel, who claimed that an eventual return to the Liberty was always going to be on the cards.

He said: “It is great to see him back because we obviously lost Gylfi (Sigurdsson) and Llorente in the transfer window. Wilfried will be a popular player here because he has got a great character.

Former Swansea City striker Wilfried Bony

“He knows his role in the final third, but he is also a huge help to the defence when we are facing set-pieces too. I have never seen someone jumping as much as him in the box!